Harrison said that the NOPD's plan to improve response times in New Orleans will center around a new policy and ordinance regarding false burglar alarms.

During the news conference, Harrison highlighted the issues that false alarms impose on the NOPD, including wasted manpower and costs to taxpayers. He said burglar alarms made up 11 percent of the NOPD's service calls in 2014, with an estimated 12,000 man hours every year responding to false alarms.

"These calls bog us down and waste resources," Harrison said.

When the ordinance is approved, the NOPD will give homeowners with false burglar alarms a warning the first time, a $75 fine the second time and a $150 fine the third time, in addition to not responding to future calls. Harrison said the penalties would start over after the calendar year ends.

Harrison said the new ordinance will result in an immediate decrease in false alarms and will increase NOPD response times for confirmed burglar alarms and other crimes in New Orleans.

In addition to homeowners, alarm monitoring companies will also face penalties under the new ordinance. The companies will have to adhere to the similar measures by confirming the validity of burglary alarms before officers arrive.

Harrison said alarm companies will be fined if NOPD officers arrive and the alarm turns out to be false. It's unclear what the fines will be for companies under the ordinance.

Harrison said the new ordinance mirrors "best practice models" adopted across the country. He said the new measures will go into effect once the city council approves the ordinance and Mayor Mitch Landrieu signs it.